Legally Brunette

Ken McElroy terrorized an entire town and kept getting away with it. Until the day his luck ran out. He was gunned down in front of dozens of witnesses, and suddenly “nobody saw a thing.” In Broad Daylight author Harry MacLean joins Elisa Donovan to unpack this wild true crime story, how McElroy became untouchable, and why everyone stayed silent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elisa Donovan and Jenn Fessler are still trying to process Nathan Fielder's You Can See Everything. From outrageous revelations to laugh-out-loud absurdity, the new Elizabeth Holmes documentary is unlike anything they've ever watched. Elisa and Jenn break down the wildest moments and debate the question at the heart of it all: Who's manipulating whom? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sandra Birchmore was failed by law enforcement as an adolescent, and it followed her through adulthood. She was groomed, taken advantage of by authority figures, and her life was taken. Allegedly, someone wanted to ensure that she kept their secrets… Emily and Shane are diving into the background of this case, what happened to Sandra, and the main players in this horrific crime. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What did relatives know, and what did they keep secret? Actress Marlene Forte, who played the brothers' aunt in Netflix's Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, joins Killer Thriller to reveal the disturbing family secrets, the warning signs that may have been ignored, and why José Menendez's own sister defended the nephews who murdered him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Winger portrayed himself as a hero. His wife, Donnah, was allegedly murdered by a lunatic, and Mark tried to avenge her. However, after Mark remarried, he had three more children and started a new life for himself. Then, detectives received new information that painted him as Donnah’s murderer. Why did he kill his wife? What was the evidence against him? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A teenage girl, a major cocaine operation, and seven years in federal prison. Jennifer Fessler sits down with Denise Trigo Fleming, author of Dealing: Memoirs of a Cocaine Teenpin, to explore how she went from a teenager caught up in Southern California’s glamorous drug scene to serving time in federal prison. Denise opens up about the dangerous relationships and fierce loyalties that kept pulling her deeper into that world, the devastating loss of her best friend, and the choices that changed her life forever. She also reflects on surviving prison, rebuilding her life, and how she sees her past today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He may seem sweet, attentive and genuinely interested in your daughter. But what if the romance is actually a trap? In Stolen From the Suburbs, starring Sydney Sweeney, teenage girls are manipulated by young men they think they can trust before being abducted into a sex trafficking ring.Actress Brooke Nevin explains the real grooming tactic known as the “Romeo trap,” how traffickers exploit emotional vulnerability and her warning to unsuspecting parents that this can happen anywhere. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Gypsy Rose back in headlines after her ex-fiancés tragic passing, Emily and Shane are diving into the crime that initially put her behind bars. What did Münchausen syndrome by proxy look like for Gypsy growing up? How far did her mother’s abuse extend? Did Dee Dee have everyone, including Gypsy, fooled? There is no justification for murder; was it Gypsy’s only way out? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ted Kaczynski has been remembered as a brilliant, isolated killer, but people who actually knew him described another side. A local librarian who befriended him said he tutored her child and could make her laugh for hours. Sharlto Copley, who plays him in Ted K, reveals the startling details he uncovered while researching Kaczynski and the side of the notorious killer most people have never heard about. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas Randolph was married six times, yet four of his wives had died… What happened to these women? How did he get away with these crimes for so long? Plus, there’s a Rod Stewart song about killing your wife and it’s a detail that Shane can’t quite get over. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A woman is murdered, her body dumped in the Mississippi River, and nearly 30 years later, her ghost may help lead investigators back to her killer. Jennifer Fessler sits down with writer and director Philip Cairney to unpack HBO’s The Pet Cemetery Murders: A Ghost Story, a chilling true-crime investigation filled with mob ties, buried secrets, shocking twists, and eerie encounters that challenge even the biggest skeptics. Is it guilt, coincidence, or something paranormal? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first woman to be executed in Tennessee in over 200 years actually…survived. Christa Pike was given two lethal injections and has since recovered. According to her attorneys, she is now speaking and walking. This is not the first botched lethal injection in Tennessee this year. So, what happens next? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Denise Brown recounts the terrifying night she says she watched O.J. Simpson grab Nicole by the throat and lift her off the ground as Denise desperately tried to pull him away. Nicole left with her that night but returned the next day. Denise explains why she once blamed herself and what she now understands about why victims go back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may remember Jenny Lupton, the Southwest flight attendant who allegedly jumped off of a 24th floor hotel room in Honolulu, HI. Emily and Shane are sitting down with two of Jenny’s best friends to discuss this mysterious case and WHY the alleged suicide attempt doesn’t make sense… How was her body conveniently found in a dumpster? Why is her family not getting any answers? Would she ever leave her teenage son without saying goodbye? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Shane are joined by psychologist Dr. Hillary Goldsher to discuss the case between Jane Doe and “The Cornell 7”. This episode will discuss alleged sexual assault, drug, and alcohol use which may be triggering to some listeners. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, support is available 24/7 through the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or online at rainn.org See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicole Brown Simpson’s sister Denise reveals the warning signs of abuse her family missed, including a shocking photo of Nicole’s battered face that she explained away as 'movie makeup.' More than 30 years later, Denise opens up about what Nicole was hiding from the people closest to her, and what she wishes she had understood before it was too late. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drew Peterson collected wives, then collected murders… As a decorated police officer, Peterson flew under the radar when things started to look suspicious. What finally implicated him? Did Peterson allegedly kill TWO of his wives? Did his children testify against him? Is he still in prison to this day? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian and actor Dane Cook joins Jen Fessler and Elisa Donovan to open up about the shocking betrayal at the center of his new documentary, Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story. After discovering his half-brother had stolen millions from him, Dane’s life, career and relationship with his family unraveled in ways he never saw coming. He reveals what the betrayal did to him personally, how he rebuilt his life after one of its darkest periods, and the lessons he learned the hard way about money and trust. Plus the surprising answer to whether he would ever sit down with him face-to-face. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michelle Carter told her suicidal boyfriend Conrad Roy to go through with it and when he tried to back out, prosecutors said she told him to get back in the truck. The Girl From Plainville creator Patrick Macmanus takes Killer Thriller inside the explosive “texting suicide” case and reveals what he discovered in thousands of private messages about their complicated relationship. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elisa Donovan and Jenn Fessler react to the guilty verdict in the American Idol murder case and the stunning evidence that convinced a jury despite no recovered murder weapon, no gunshot-residue test and no blood on Caleb. Jenn says the more than 100,000 messages between Caleb and his mistress may have essentially become the prosecution’s “murder weapon.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lindsay Clancy had her first hearing since the mistrial, and Kevin Reddington made a shocking move… What’s next? Plus, Caleb Flynn’s fate is now in the hands of the jury. What do Emily and Shane think about the AI songs and 100,000+ text messages between him and his mistress? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month, Tomasz Kosowski represented himself at trial after being charged with first-degree murder… Unsurprisingly, the judge found him guilty in approximately 15 minutes. Why did Kosowski commit such a gruesome crime against Steven Cozzi? What evidence did the prosecution present? Will Kosowski receive the death penalty for this? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Wayne Gacy buried victim after victim beneath his home until he ran out of room. 'Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy' showrunner Patrick Macmanus takes us inside Gacy's house into the crawl space where victims were buried and exposes the shocking failures that allowed the murders to continue. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former American Idol contestant, Caleb Flynn, is currently on trial for the murder of his wife, Ashley. Though Caleb pleads “not guilty”, the prosecution has hard evidence against him, including over 100,000 text messages with his mistress… **Disclaimer: this trial is ongoing. We will provide updates as it progresses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What started as a high school sociology project became a real cold-case investigation. Jennifer Fessler sits down with teacher Alex Campbell, whose students spent hundreds of hours digging through evidence, building timelines, challenging theories and chasing answers in the infamous Redhead Murders. Campbell shares what they uncovered, why he believes teenagers are an untapped resource for cold-case investigations, and how their work has now led to a new investigation into a 46-year-old suspicious death. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ted Kaczynski terrorized America for 17 years while eluding the FBI. But before he was the Unabomber, he was a 16-year-old Harvard prodigy subjected to controversial psychological experiments. Director Janus Metz joins Killer Thriller to reveal the disturbing story behind the new Netflix film and why Kaczynski’s warnings about technology feel eerily relevant in the age of AI. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The gruesome double homicide that Lizzie Borden was accused of back in 1892 is being brought to light in Netflix's latest “Monsters” anthology… What did the docuseries get right & what was completely fabricated? Do we believe that Lizzie Borden actually killed her father and stepmother? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why was Patrick Clancy’s “60 Minutes” interview just 14 minutes long?! Do we think lawyers got involved? Rachel Danis has officially confirmed her pregnancy. Did this announcement come across as…inappropriate? Plus, what’s our final takeaway after seeing Patrick in this new light? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lindsay Clancy case is far from over. Jenn Fessler and Elisa Donovan react to Patrick Clancy’s emotional 60 Minutes interview and the intense scrutiny he continues to face, including the question of why he felt he had to defend himself publicly. They then break down the shocking 11-1 jury split that ended in a mistrial, the lone holdout who refused to budge, and the big question now: will Lindsay face another trial? Plus, they examine the complicated debate over postpartum psychosis and criminal responsibility, discuss the changes to postpartum care already being proposed in Massachusetts, and look ahead to what could happen when the case returns to court on September 29th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The murder of Dan Markel is as complex as it gets… When overprotective family members involve themselves in a bitter divorce, how do things end in murder? Why were five people charged with Dan Markel’s death? What role did each of the guilty parties play? How was his ex-wife never implicated?! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenn Fessler is joined by A Killer Story director Matthew Galkin and executive producer Josh Levine to unpack the murder case with no clear answer. They reveal the twists that changed their view of the case, the amateur sleuths who gave up everything to prove Dana Chandler’s innocence, the alternative suspect, and the shocking decision that changed the third trial. Plus, why they wouldn’t have convicted Chandler and why, after six years investigating, they’re still not sure who killed Mike and Karen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After years of horrific abuse, Rickie Kananen admitted killing both his parents. Then he accused his sister Stacey of being responsible for the murders. Brendan Taylor joins Elisa to reveal the real Rickie behind "Monster in the Family" and the chillingly “normal” man he saw while watching the actual court footage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jurors from the Lindsay Clancy trial are speaking out, but is it a good call? Do we understand why the one holdout juror had his doubts? Where did the other jurors go wrong? Plus, will Lindsay Clancy be receiving a Presidential pardon? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Reddington will be appearing in another murder trial very soon… He is representing Kelsie Cote, who is accused of murdering her grandmother, Doris. The details of Doris Cote’s gruesome death has the public questioning: what will Kelsie’s defense be? Does it seem plausible that Doris died at the hands of anyone other than her granddaughter? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Randy Roth knew exactly how to charm vulnerable women. Actor Colin Egglesfield explains how that charm could turn into something much darker. Colin joins Elisa to unravel the convicted killer’s web of love bombing, control and lies, the suspicious death of another wife and the chilling question of how Randy kept convincing women to trust him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Bliefnick gave the public a reason to dislike him before he pulled the trigger on his wife… Was his answer on “Family Feud” a foreshadowing of their fate? Plus, how did a divorce attorney turn into a criminal attorney for Bliefnick? What are the reasons you should NEVER do this? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer Fessler sits down with filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato to unpack HBO’s Murder in Glitterball City and the shocking murder of hairdresser and drag performer James “Jamie” Carroll. Jamie’s body was found buried beneath a Louisville home shared by former lovers Joey Banis and Jeffrey Mundt and both men blamed the other. The filmmakers reveal the disturbing evidence they uncovered, the questions that still linger and the surprising RuPaul’s Drag Race connection. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pregnant mom and her family are held at gunpoint for three terrifying days. And what really happened inside that house is even darker than the movie reveals. Terror Comes Knocking actor Ivan Lopez joins Elisa to talk about the shocking true crime, the desperate fight to survive, and the disturbing details that never made it to screen. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trial that we’ve been following for weeks has finally come to a close… What does a mistrial mean for Lindsay Clancy and her team? Kevin Reddington tried to get an appeal & is now asking the President for a pardon. Is it possible? Plus, we’ve found similar cases to Clancy’s that may make you think twice. Is an acquittal truly the best option? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caroline Herrling may have come across as a sweet, innocent woman at first glance… At least to her neighbors. Little did they know, she was taking over a dead man’s life & stealing his money before dismembering him on the roof of her building. And that's just the beginning. How did investigators catch Caroline and uncover her devious plans? Where is she now? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The Pastor’s Wife” is a new Netflix documentary that dives into the death of a devoted Christian woman, Mica Miller, who suffered grooming and abuse by her pastor and husband, JP Miller. Do Emily and Shane believe that Mica killed herself, or was something more nefarious going on? How did JP continue to have followers, considering all he had done?! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five women. Five Hooters restaurants. Five shocking murders. Jennifer Fessler sits down with The Hooters Murders: Deadly Shift showrunner Kevin Brennecke to uncover the disturbing connections between the cases and the warning signs that may have been missed. From workplace vulnerabilities to questions of safety and accountability, the documentary explores what happened to these women and why some former Hooters employees are still afraid to speak publicly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She killed her three children. But was Lindsay Clancy capable of understanding that what she was doing was wrong? Elisa Donovan and Jennifer Fessler take on the case and find themselves struggling with the same question that has divided so many people: How much should severe mental illness change the way we judge an unthinkable crime? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily and Shane are recapping this month’s true crime cases. From pastors to satanic rituals and fake doctors to scorned daughters… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The jury is deliberating and they hold the fate of Lindsay Clancy in their hands… The question that everyone is asking: can Lindsay be fully acquitted? What do Emily and Shane believe the final verdict will be? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Baker, who plays school security guard Tom Hose in Lifetime’s The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story, breaks down how Hose kept a teenage girl captive for years without locks or chains and why psychological control can be just as powerful See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Clancy trial blowing up, there is another case of a husband framing his wife for suicide and it’s going viral… Coincidentally, they share the same name: Lindsey and Patrick. Why did Patrick Barnett stage his wife’s suicide and where did he go wrong? Are there similarities between this case and what the public is allegedly assuming happened between the Clancy’s? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordyn Ashley Olson, who portrays Tanya Kach in The Girl Locked Upstairs, breaks down one of the most chilling parts of Tanya’s story: why she was the perfect target for a predator. At just 14, Tanya was isolated, vulnerable, and desperate for connection. Jordyn explains how a school security guard recognized those vulnerabilities and systematically exploited them until Tanya became dependent on the very man abusing her. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Harper was sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of killing his 6-month-old son. Investigators claimed the cause of death was shaken baby syndrome. Kevin was sentenced to prison, unable to grieve the loss of his son, and forced into survival mode for 13 years while he remained behind bars. He is here to tell his story about being wrongfully convicted, and shedding a light on The Northern California Innocence Project, who stepped in to free him. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why are we so obsessed with the lawyers behind true crime’s biggest cases? Elisa Donovan and Jennifer Fessler dive into our fascination with courtroom stars lie Johnny Cochran, Marcia Clark, and Camille Vasquez – and why Kevin Reddington has become a standout in the Lindsay Clancy trial. They break down how charisma, confidence and courtroom presence can turn lawyers into celebrities and even chang the way we see the people on trial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.